Recycle Grocery Bags Into Eco-Packaging

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By Jackie Hernandez, Crafting a Green World

I have used brown paper bags in the past to re-wrap boxes for shipping, but I never thought of making shipping envelopes from brown bags. This genius packaging idea reuses plastic grocery bags for waterproofing and brown paper bags to make the outer envelope. My favorite part is the stitching to close it up. No glue or tape necessary!

This fabulous eco packaging idea from Linda Everett of LindaEve and the Eco Etsy Team. Linda developed this packaging to use for her beautiful bags made from neckties and repurposed fabrics. She shares a complete tutorial for making your own grocery bag shipping envelopes on the Eco Etsy Blog. She recommends wrapping the item to be shipped in a plastic grocery bag first to provide some waterproofing. But don’t tape the plastic bag, just wrap the item inside it, so the bag can be reused again by the recipient. The outer envelope is cut from a brown paper bag.

You will probably get two envelopes per bag, more if your items are small. Instead of tape or glue, simply stitch the seams shut for a great handmade touch.

The Eco Etsy team is a group of Etsy sellers dedicated to reducing, reusing, and recycling. They are committed to using recycled materials in both their products and packaging. The Eco Etsy Blog is a great resource for eco-tips, product features, and how-to’s for all crafters and artists trying to go green.

Green Options Media is a network of environmentally-focused blogs providing users with the information needed to make sustainable choices. Written by experienced professionals, Green Options Media’s blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. We invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance.

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

What a great idea! I mail dozens of books (go, Paperbackswap!) and while I rerereuse the envelopes people have mailed to me, inevitably I run out. Usually I just wrap the book in a plastic bag and then in brown paper, but this looks so nice!

I love this idea. I am thinking about incorporating it for my organic t-shirt business. I was thinking how exactly can I make it even more efficient. Do you just collect these bags and accumulate them? I love this idea.32gb compact flash